Does anybody have a read on how the Collective Bargaining agreement is going to effect the Browns? My understanding is the NFLPA and the NFL are not even close to a deal. The Browns have significant cap room, but if the structure of the NFL's salary cap could change significantly, is it wise to spend like drunken sailors this year and lock yourself into long-term contracts? I wonder if agents will be demanding more this year given the uncertainty of those negotiations? The Browns typically pay a premium to attract talent anyway and I wonder if that might be compounded.

bostondog wrote:I wonder if agents will be demanding more this year given the uncertainty of those negotiations? The Browns typically pay a premium to attract talent anyway and I wonder if that might be compounded.

Thoughts?

Though I don't know the rationale behind it, it seems to be opinion of those who are supposed to know that the uncertainty of the CBA will drive down the cost of the vast majority of free agents, so it sounds like it could really help us. It might also explain us letting Bryant test the FA waters before making him an offer, as well as the rumor mentioned on the other other board that we're doing the same with Orpheus Roye.

Fantastic piece by Lester this morning. This stands to help the Browns immensely in FA. This portion of the column made my mouth water.

The free agent market would have been strong regardless of the CBA non-extension. However, there are now two major factors that amplify the Browns advantage even more:

There will be many more impact players on the market due to the drastic cuts that will take place

There will be fewer teams capable of signing those players to contract

Looking to improve your interior line? Instead of competing with a dozen teams for LeCharles Bentley, the Browns could be competing with as few as four teams. Oh, and if Bentley isn’t there, plan B might be Kevin Mawae. Or Will Shields at guard.

Need to improve at Linebacker? Will Witherspoon and Julian Peterson are playing hardball? That’s okay, we’ll go down the list to three time Pro Bowler Lavar Arrington, or maybe former Defensive Player of the year Derrick Brooks. I’m sure one of them can replace Ben Taylor quite nicely.

The Browns need a Nose Tackle. Let’s use Sam Adams and Grady Jackson as leverage against Kemoeatu. Where else are these guys going to go? If we don’t sign them, who will? Certainly not the Redskins, Raiders, or 15 other teams who will have barely enough space to sign their 2006 draft picks.

Even though he was exposed as a bumbling idiot this off-season, Lerner has always been willing to spend, and knows he is teetering on the brink of losing a healthy portion of this fan base with another 6 win season.

This off-season is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in Browns history.

We should be able to get to at least average in EVERY position by signing vet FAs. No longer should we have a sub-standard position player starting for us.

I have always felt that you build your strongpoints on the team via the draft and use FA to eliminate any weaknesses. With a lot of good veteran talent available at all poitions, the enormous amout of money we are under the cap, with a GM that has a plan, and a HC that people would actually want to play for AND a lack of compition for those available FA's, we should strike gold in the coming weeks.

Play-offs should not be a laughable goal this season, it coule well be attainable!

If there is one thing that I know, it is that teams like cleveland never remain in a situation of advantage for too long. The league will make a bunch of exceptions and special "one-time" considerations to appease the rest of the major markets.